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Desktop randomly turned on by laptop

Anonymous
2021-03-06T00:43:18+00:00

I have a desktop (self build) and a Dell Latitude E5470 laptop. I noticed an odd phenomenon - my laptop will, for no obvious reason, turn my desktop on.

My desktop is running Windows 10 Home and the laptop is running Windows 10 Pro. Usually, if both are turned off, when I boot up my laptop, the desktop will be turned on as well. If I turn off the desktop, then it will boot up "randomly" (Because I really can't be sure what I have done on the laptop to cause it to boot up)

The desktop is connected to my router using Ethernet, while the laptop is connected via WiFi. Here are what I have done/observed:

  1. Make sure remote desktop on both the desktop and laptop is off.
  2. Make sure in the desktop BIOS, Wake On LAN is off.
  3. On both PCs, Battery & Power Options has nothing that allowed scheduled/alarm boot up.
  4. Other software/Driver are the usual, downloaded from official website ones, or automatically updated via Windows Update.
  5. Both PCs have been reinstall from fresh a few months ago (partly due to this problem). Both went through re-partitioning of hard disk, so I doubt any hack/malware/trojan will remain. All backup files are stored in a NAS.
  6. Windows Security Center never reports any threat detected.
  7. My desktop will NOT behave out of place if I keep the laptop off.
  8. This will not happen if I turned off the WiFi module in my laptop, so clearly it is at least part of the source of the problem.
  9. The desktop will only be turned on when the laptop is at lock screen, just before I could log in to the laptop.
  10. Nothing unusual in Windows Event Viewer logs. No error on both PC, only commonly seen warning is (on both PCs), usually happens when the odd behavior occur:

The application-specific permission settings do not grant Local Launch permission for the COM Server application with CLSID

Windows.SecurityCenter.WscBrokerManager
and APPID
Unavailable

to the user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM SID (S-1-5-18) from address LocalHost (Using LRPC) running in the application container Unavailable SID (Unavailable). This security permission can be modified using the Component Services administrative tool.

SO, based on the above,

  1. My PCs are clean, at least Windows Security Center says so.
  2. WiFi has something to do with the problem.
  3. It's always the laptop turned on the desktop, never the other way around.

I really have no clue what in my laptop is causing the problem, nor do I have the expertise to go deeper in diagnosing the source of the problem, and it is quite annoying since I'll have to frequently keep shutting my desktop for no reason. Can someone please help?

Regards,

Darren

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Sleep and Power on, off

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-03-12T01:57:57+00:00

    Hi Webb. I'm Greg, awarded MVP for eleven years, Volunteer Moderator, and Independent Advisor here to help you until this is resolved.

    Whatever it is is likely happening through the router, so I would reset and optimize the router to see if that makes a difference:
    https://www.lifewire.com/resetting-a-home-netwo...
    http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/ultim...
    https://www.pcmag.com/article/258865/how-to-set...
    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/21132/change-you...

    Are you file Sharing through the router? If so turn off File sharing to see if it stops:
    https://www.action1.com/kb/disabling-file-shari...

    I hope this helps. Based on what you report back I can answer any questions and may have other steps to perform.

    ______________________________________________
    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

    Sorry for late reply. I have to leave home on a business trip for a few days. I've tried resetting my router, it didn't help, I tried before I leave home. All I had done after the reset, is setting my WiFi access password and nothing else. Still, my desktop is still getting boot up when I turn on the laptop.

    After the trip, however, there is one change - the auto boot up has stopped. There are only two things that's is significant that may have lead to the change:

    1. I have unplugged my PC for the few days I'm away. Maybe cold booting my desktop would break whatever connection with the laptop, thus the auto boot up stopped.
    2. Windows update - there was a windows update during my trip, and I updated my laptop with my smartphone hot spot. Later when I'm home, I also updated my desktop.

    so far, I have boot up my laptop 4 or 5 times, and the desktop stayed off.

    I don't know which is the reason that stopped the auto boot up problem, but I'm happy it's gone and I hope it will stay away.

    Thanks for the helps. Sadly, I really can't pinpoint the source of problem, even the problem stopped happening again.

    Regards,

    Darren

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-03-06T02:57:34+00:00

    Hi Webb. I'm Greg, awarded MVP for eleven years, Volunteer Moderator, and Independent Advisor here to help you until this is resolved.

    Whatever it is is likely happening through the router, so I would reset and optimize the router to see if that makes a difference:

    https://www.lifewire.com/resetting-a-home-netwo...

    http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/ultim...

    https://www.pcmag.com/article/258865/how-to-set...

    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/21132/change-you...

    Are you file Sharing through the router? If so turn off File sharing to see if it stops:

    https://www.action1.com/kb/disabling-file-shari...

    I hope this helps. Based on what you report back I can answer any questions and may have other steps to perform.

    ______________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-03-06T01:11:02+00:00

    Hello,

    Thanks for your reply, I have done as you suggested, but sadly that didn't solve the problem. I restarted my laptop 3 times after turning off "Sync you settings" on both PCs, still, the desktop will boot up as soon as my laptop enters the lock screen.

    Regards,

    Darren.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-03-06T00:54:16+00:00

    Go Settings, Apps , Sync your systems and see that they are turned off on both computers.

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